Only open a short time and already Tortaria is drawing in big crowds. This trendy restaurant/tequila bar on the corner of 12th Street and University Place is made to look like a true Mexican market.

Tortaria boasts that its foods are made-to-order, like the guacamole and chips ($4.60) available from a mild version to caliente, and three types of freshly made salsas; roja, tomatillo and chipotle BBQ ($3.68 each).

You will also find char-grilled corn on the cob slathered with queso fresco, and Mexican grilled sandwiches called tortas. You can get them filled with things like pulled pork, Papalo leaves and roasted chipotle peppers ($7.81), as well as braised short ribs with black beans and jalapeno ($8.73). There's also a grilled cheese made with melted Oaxaca cheese and deep fried chicken chicharrones.

Tortaria is also dishing out taquitos made with hand-pressed tortillas, including one with crispy red snapper and mango-chipotle slaw ($5.52), and another loaded up with strip steak, fried onion strings and tomatilla salsa ($6.43).

Some non-Mexican items have managed to sneak onto the menu, like a caesar salad, crispy egglant sandwich and a double angus burger. But for the most part, Tortaria sticks closely to its Mexican mission. Viva Mexico! - Thomas Rafael